Center your story around someone who’s being haunted — by what or whom is up to you.

Posted in Dramatic on Nov 1, 2024

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✍️ 101 stories

“Ariadne's Plight” by Tessa McEarchern

Submitted to Contest #275

Tucked into bed with the blinds closed tight and the night light on, Ariadne Lou Caliver was trying to sleep. On all accounts sleep should have come easily, as the door was opened just the right amount to let in the warm hallway light, a glowing runway to her parent’s room next door. The closet was closed, the windows locked tight, and the night light was set at the exact angle needed on the corner of her dresser so that it could light up the entirety of her bed. The room was quiet except for the sound of the crickets chirping outside ...

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“Lurking in the Depths of You” by Chelsea Kate

Submitted to Contest #275

“What brings you in to see us today, Mr. Elliot Blackwood?” sternly asks the detective. I couldn’t help but slightly scrunch up my nose at the smell of the detective’s breath, reeking of cigarettes and coffee, making me forget why I was here for a split second.It wasn’t long until the fear-induced anxiety continued to rush through me as I stutter to string my words together. “Som… som… someone is following me, sir. I can’t help but feel someone is watching me everywhere I go.”Only looking slightly concerned and almost as if he didn’t believe...

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“Doubt” by Mark Ready

Submitted to Contest #275

They appeared as spontaneous flashes of inspiration, fleeting sparks of creativity that ricocheted through my mind, exploded into ideas, and intertwined to form the complex personalities of my characters and the intricate lines of their stories. My thoughts teemed with a torrent of concepts for future narratives and personas that flowed so rapidly I could but scribble them down and wait for another day to bring them to life. My imagination felt boundless, a vast expanse of potential, until the wormlike threads of doubt began to weave their w...

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“Audrey” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #275

I didn't believe in the supernatural until I met Dan. We worked in the same coffee shop at uni. I was studying English lit. He was in Fine Arts. There was something of the tragic poet in his dark good looks. His habitual melancholy fascinated me immediately, although he was so reserved that we never talked about anything other than work issues. I heard my late mother’s voice one evening when we were closing the shop.“Be careful. He has a lot of trauma in his past. Stop trying to rescue all the wounded birds.”I shook my head to clear it.“He’s...

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“Witches Union 106” by Brian Carney

Submitted to Contest #275

It was one of those deceptive days, the sky was clear with a soft blue hue. The sun shone brightly; a few golden leaves fluttered back and forth, still clinging to the tree it used to feed. The wind and ambient temperature did not get the same memo. The cold bit your cheeks and nose as soon as you stepped outside, letting you know that winter was still coming, and the Indian summer day yesterday, was just another of Mother Nature's jokes. She pulled the ...

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“Please stop ghosting me ” by Judy Mosher

Submitted to Contest #275

I stomped over to the dresser and grabbed the bracelet. “I don’t know why she can’t leave her hands off my stuff”. I continued stomping back to my room and put the bracelet back in my jewelry box. Jennifer could be sooo annoying. Ever since the car accident she kept taking my stuff and ignoring me. She was a pest before but now it had become twice as bad. This silent treatment stuff was driving me crazy. It was so childish. I crept back to her room and grabbed her favorite stuffed cat, Mr. Softie, off her b...

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“That Night” by Martika P

Submitted to Contest #275

This story contains talk of death, mental health and alludes to violence.It was nearing 5pm and the end of his shift, when he would finally be able to go home and take his badge off for the day, he was writing up the last incident report when someone came through the police station doors. The man who came in was dirty looking, he wore old faded blue jeans and a shirt that looked like it had once been white but was now smeared with dirt and he smelled badly. “I've come to report a crime.”“What sort of crime?”“A murder.”At the word of murder h...

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“You And Me, Pal” by Jim Marcotte

Submitted to Contest #275

“I hate you!”The words reverberated down the hallway, punctuated by a door slam. The big man spun on his heel, heading back down the hall when she slid in front of him, blocking his charge with one small hand on his barrel chest.“Geez, Phil, must you be so hard on the kid? Leave him be.”His eyes flashed steely blue. “Doors don’t get slammed in this house. That’s always been the rule and he knows it!”She placed a second hand on his chest and pushed him backwards into the kitchen.“You took his bike away. It’s a major part of his life, let him ...

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“Yellow ” by Michael Antonucci

Submitted to Contest #275

Lightheaded and drenched in sweat, Michael stood up before his mind continued to wander. He walked to a tall tree and lifted the chainsaw with one hand, and began to ascend the ladder with the other. He paused for a moment, assessing the branch he would prune. He steadied himself, and with a pull of the cord, started the tool. He flipped the switch to engage the chain, gave it a few revs, and held down the trigger as he engaged the limb. With a thud, it fell to the ground.He turned his attention to the next branch. As he did, he felt somethi...

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“Behind your back and beyond the fence” by Kerstin Jump

Submitted to Contest #275

The late afternoon sun was hot and lusty, and he sat and screamed and hollered from his chaise longue atop the curdling sky. His arms were spread and he let himself molest the golden tree tops and shimmering waters; his sweltering pulse beating in all he touched. The Wife sat resigned beside her old house, its white paint walls muted even in the rays of summer; yonder lay the vast fields, aching and simmering as eggs do in hot pans, their dirt and mud and muck rumbling and chafing. Pushing back a lock of hair behind her ear, she looked acros...

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“The bits remember” by Nino Perez

Submitted to Contest #275

The clock on the far side of the wall ticked midnight. Aria glanced at it and trembled, knowing what was about to come. “YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD ENOUGH,” each word shone in a shiny green light on the dull, faded, yellowish-gray monitor before her, reflecting on her pale skin. “STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!” Aria screamed at the top of her lungs, clutching her head tightly with both hands. It took a monstrous effort not to bang her forehead against the display. The letters on the black screen disappeared, leaving only the flashing cursor behind. Aria ...

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Center your story around someone who’s being haunted — by what or whom is up to you.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 101 stories

“Ariadne's Plight” by Tessa McEarchern

“Lurking in the Depths of You” by Chelsea Kate

“Doubt” by Mark Ready

“Audrey” by Bettina Karpathian

“Witches Union 106” by Brian Carney

“Please stop ghosting me ” by Judy Mosher

“That Night” by Martika P

“You And Me, Pal” by Jim Marcotte

“Yellow ” by Michael Antonucci

“Behind your back and beyond the fence” by Kerstin Jump

“The bits remember” by Nino Perez

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story from the point of view of a witch, spirit, or corpse.

Start your story with a character being led somewhere by a black cat.

Write a story about someone who’s running out of time.

Write a story that includes the line “Better late than never.”

Contest #275

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

388

Contest entries

170

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: